Nets Ignore ‘Testy’ First Day of Court in Menendez Bribery Trial

Wednesday was the first day of Democratic Senator Bob Menendez’s federal trial for bribery, but you would barely know it was occurring if you were only getting your news from the liberal Big Three Networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC). CBS News did briefly mention the trial in the morning, but they failed to follow up on the heated courtroom exchanges during CBS Evening News later in the day. Meanwhile, both ABC and NBC continued their complete and utter blackout of the story.

Fox News Correspondent David Lee Miller was on Special Report where he reported that Menendez “faces a dozen criminal charges, accused of accepting more than $700,000 in campaign-related cash and thousands of dollars in free hotel rooms and air travel from a longtime friend, Doctor Salomon Melgen.”

There were flare-ups between Menendez’s attorney and the federal judge that went unreported by the Big Three Networks because of their blackout. “In a testy exchange, Menendez's attorney accused the judge of disparaging the defense in his written opinion,” noted Miller.“At one point, the judge told Menendez's lawyer, quote: ‘Shut up for a moment if you don't mind.’”

When it came to the opening statement from the prosecution, they unloaded the highly damaging allegations against the Democratic Senator. As reported by Miller:

During opening statements, the prosecution told the jury that is part of the bribery scheme, Menendez sent the doctor an email asking him to provide a $1500 a night Paris hotel room with a limestone bath and a view of the courtyard. Prosecutors say Menendez in exchange helped the doctor and multimillion dollar business deals and allegedly tried to get visas for the doctor's foreign girlfriends.

Instead of following up on their morning report, CBS News chose to run an entire report touting the newly leaked excerpts from two-time failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s new book. “Hillary Clinton on who is responsible for her historic loss,” hyped Anchor Anthony Mason.

CBS White House Correspondent Nancy Cordes went on about how Clinton blamed the public’s “unhealthy fixation” on her marriage. Cordes also noted that Clinton blamed sexism, Democratic opponent Bernie Sanders, and former Vice President Joe Biden for her truly historic defeat.

Meanwhile, on ABC and NBC, they went wild over a viral video showing a shoplifting suspect slipping out of her cuffs, then stealing the cop car she was in, and the ensuing car chase.

The Big Three Networks would rather lift up their failed presidential candidate or pretend to be a local news station than report on the bribery trial of an allegedly corrupt Democratic Senator.

Transcript below:

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BRET BAIER: New Jersey Democratic Senator Bob Menendez has he will be vindicated in his corruption trial that began today. Menendez is accused of taking bribes from and doing favors for a Florida doctor. The trial has also serious ramifications for the U.S. Senate and Senate math for the leadership. Correspondent David Lee Miller is in Newark, New Jersey tonight.

[Cuts to video]

BOB MENENDEZ: Never, not once, not once have I dishonored my public office.

DAVID LEE MILLER: New Jersey Democratic Senator Bob Menendez on trial for bribery was on the verge of tears as he proclaimed his innocence outside federal court in Newark.

MENENDEZ: I appreciate my family being here, my son and daughter, being here today. I appreciate my supporters.

MILLER: He faces a dozen criminal charges, accused of accepting more than $700,000 in campaign related cash and thousands of dollars in free hotel rooms and air travel from a longtime friend, Doctor Solomon Melgen.

During opening statements, the prosecution told the jury that is part of the bribery scheme, Menendez sent the doctor an email asking him to provide a $1500 a night Paris hotel room with a limestone bath and a view of the courtyard. Prosecutors say Menendez in exchange helped the doctor and multimillion dollar business deals and allegedly tried to get visas for the doctor's foreign girlfriends.

Both Melgen, who has a previous conviction for Medicare fraud, and Menendez are on trial. But there is more at stake. The trial could change the balance of power in the U.S. Senate. The judge rejected a motion by Menendez to change the trial schedule to allow him to attend crucial votes such as health care.

In a testy exchange, Menendez's attorney accused the judge of disparaging the defense in his written opinion. At one point the judge told Menendez's lawyer, quote: "Shut up for a moment, if you don't mind."

Menendez says he will exercise his constitutional right to attend the trial but acknowledged the conflict he faces if Democrats need his vote in the Senate.

(…)

[Cuts back to live]

MILLER: During opening statements, Menendez's lawyer told jurors “a single word can cut through a mountain of evidence. That word: Friendship.” The defense says it isn't a case of bribery, just one friend helping out another.

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